A case of solid pseudopapillary tumour of the pancreas and malignant mesothelioma.
BACKGROUND
A 59-year-old man with previous exposure to asbestos presented with dyspnoea and pleuritic chest pain, had a pleural effusion and was treated for pneumonia. His symptom recurred and was found to have an abdominal mass.


CONCLUSIONS
An abdominal computerised tomogram revealed pancreatic body mass arising. Pleural fluid cytology and a pleural biopsy failed to demonstrate malignancy. The pancreatic tumour was resected by distal pancreatectomy, segmental colectomy and splenectomy. The tumour was a solid pseudopapillary pancreatic tumour (SPT) with a high metastatic potential. The patient deteriorated and a repeat biopsy of the thickened pleura confirmed malignancy which was initially thought to be metastases from the SPT. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed malignant mesothelioma. The patient developed liver metastases and died 2 years from the diagnosis of metastatic disease.
Hu
Jennifer C C
JC
Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Howlands, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 4HQ, UK.
Brookings
William
W
Aldridge
Malcolm C
MC
D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed